Izzy Joy Te Aho-White
I am an artist of Māori, British and Danish Ancestry. My tribal affiliations are Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Kahungungu ki te Wairoa, and I whakapapa to matakite and healers. I see myself as part of a fabric that is made up of my tūpuna - this guides how I see and experience the world around me. I currently live and freelance in Pōneke and hold a bachelor’s degree (hons) in graphic design majoring in illustration from Massey University.
I’ve always expressed myself through illustrative art, and often work in a variety of mediums, both digital and traditional – ink, watercolour, acrylic, oil and gold/silver leaf, or a combination of these. My experience with technology and networking means that I often find work in the fields of illustration and graphic design.
Most of my work incorporates kowhaiwhai and plantlife that is native to Aotearoa New Zealand and explores themes such as mana wahine/the sacred feminine, kaitiakitanga and ancestral healing, reflecting the journey I have taken to reconnect with te ao māori and claim my sovereignty as wāhine.
Through my work I aim to empower other wāhine by encouraging connections to our sacred roots, using art as a healing medium and passing on my ancestral legacy.
Ko te wāhine he whare tangata, he waka tangata
Women are the houses of humanity and the channel from the spiritual world to the physical.
You can find Original Art and Print Art in the following ways:
Izzy’s website: https://www.izzyjoyart.com/
If you would like to follow her journey as an artist follow:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/izzyjoyart/
Instagram: @izzyjoyart